Order II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV, Conirostbes. 
Family III. Sturniixe. 
Ihe fifth Subfamily, 
QUISCALINiE, or Boat-tails, 
have the Bill lengthened, with the culmen straight, and slightly curved at the tip ; the Nostrils basal, 
lateral, placed in a triangular groove ; the Wings moderate and pointed; the Tail lengthened and 
8 1 aduated, with the sides generally curved upwards ; the Tarsi and foes long, strong, and much 
stellated ; the hind toe long, and armed with a strong curved claw. 
Scolecophagus Srvains .* 
Sill moderate, straight, and slender, the sides compressed, and the lateral margins indexed, but not 
smuated ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and partly covered by a membrane. Wings moderate and pointed, 
^ith the first quill shorter than the second, third, and fourth, which are the longest. Tail moderate, 
f H and slightly rounded. Tarsi of equal length with the middle toe, covered with broad scutellations. 
r ° es long and slender ; the lateral ones nearly equal ; the hind toe long ; and the claws slender, acute, 
an d slightly curved. 
These migratory birds are found in various parts of North and Central America. They appear during the short 
summer months in the neighbourhood of Hudson’s Bay, searching the ground for their food, which at that time consists 
J Wor ms and insects. As the winter approaches, they gather into large flocks and return to the southern parts, 
re< {Uenting the corn fields, rice plantations, and wherever Indian corn is to be procured in their progress ; and, as soon 
' IS s Pdng commences, they return to the north for the summer months again. The nest is built in the lower branch of 
lee > and is composed of moss and grass. The eggs are generally five in number. 
1. S. 
f.3._ 
ferrugineus (Wils.) Swains. Wils. Arner. Ornith. pi. 21. 
Oraeula quiscala var. fi Lath. ; Chalcophanes virescens 
f) riolus niger, Turdus hudsonicus, T. noveboracensis, T. la- 
bradorius Gmel. ; Pendulinus ater Vieill. ; Oriolus leucocephalus 
Lath. 
2. S. mexicanus Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart. 302. 
Quiscai.us Vieill .f 
Bill long, broad at the base, with the culmen advancing on the forehead in a point, and curved to the 
lb which overhangs that of the lower mandible ; the nostrils basal, oval, and half-closed by a membrane. 
. ' lru T Moderate, with the second, third, and fourth quills the longest. Tail long, graduated, and the 
tur ned upwards. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, strong, and greatly scutellated. Toes long, 
Str ° n & a nd much scutellated, with the lateral ones nearly equal ; the hind toe long and strong ; the 
A ' S s h°rt, strong, and slightly curved. 
* 
t 
bis genus was established in 1831, by Mr. Swainson (Faun. B°> . Arm ei i. p. 
stablished by Vieillot in 1 816 (Analyse, p. 36.). Chalcophanes o g ( ) y y ■ 
